Combination article for household use



Patented lune 6,1899.

O. E. MGLAUGHLIN 81. E. H. WILLIAMS.

COMBINATION ARTICLE FOR HOUSEHOLD USE.

(Application filed Feb. 16, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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NlTlE STATES FFICE.

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CHARLES ED\VARD MOLAUGI-ILIN AND ELMER IIOXVARD \VILLIAMS, OF KANATVIIA CITY, WEST VIRGINIA.

COMBINATION ARTICLE FOR HOUSEHOLD USE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 626,553, dated June 6, 1899.

Application filed February 16, 1899. Serial No. 705,633. (No model.)

To [til whom it mag concern.-

Beitknown that we, CHARLES EDWARD Mc- LAUGHLIN and ELMER HOWARD WILLIAMS, of Kanawha City, in the county of Kanawha and State of lVest Virginia, have invented a new and Improved Combination Article for Household Use, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

{This invention relates to a combined article comprising a step-ladder, ironing-board, and a clothes-rack; and the object is to provide an article of this descriptionpf simple construction and so arranged that the several elements may be compactly folded together when not in use and easily and quickly arranged in proper position when required for use.

We will describe a combination article for household use embodying; our invention and then point out the novel features in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,

in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation and partial section of the device, showing in full lines the ironingboard a'nd clothes-rack in their folded connection with the step-ladder; and Fig. 2 is a rear elevation thereof.

The step-ladder comprises the step-rails 1, in which the steps 2 are arranged, and the rear legs 3, pivoted at their upper ends. Two straps 4t extend rearward from the upper end of the step-rails l and underneath the top board 5. It will be seen that the straps 4 are of suflicient length to provide a considerable space between the step-rails 1 and the back legs 3, so that when the back legs are folded toward the step-rails a space is provided for containing the ironing-board 6. At one end (here shown as the smaller end) the ironingboard 6 is provided with a loop or staple 7, adapted to be engaged with a hook 8, secured to the under side of the top board 5. Near its lower end the ironing-board 6 is provided with an opening 9, through which a springcatch 10, extended from the bottom step of the step-ladder, is designed to pass. The hook portion of this catch 10 is curved downward and rearward on its top to form a curved surface, which when engaged by the upper wall of the opening 9 will depress the catch, allowing it to pass through the opening to engage against the rear side of the board, as plainly indicated in Fig. 1.

Extended between the legs 3 is a supporting-board 11,having-an opening 12,designed to receive the rounded larger end of the pressboard. This opening 12 is somewhat shorter than the width of the board at its larger end, so as to prevent the board from sliding ontirely through said opening.

YVhen it is desired to use the ironing-board, it is to be removed from its folded position within the step-ladder and placed in the p0 sition indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1-- that is, the end of the board will engage in the opening 12 and the board will rest upon the upper side of one of the steps of the ladder and acleat 13 on the lower side of the board by engaging with the rear edge of the step will hold the step-rails and legs from folding toward each other. 7 Of course the end of the board projected forward from the stepladder is the portion upon which the ironing is to be done, and as the end is entirely free a garment may be slipped over the same when desired. This extended end of the board will have a slight spring or yield under pressure, so that it makes it some easier for the person ironing. On the top of the board may be placed and secured a plate or disk 14, of asbestos or the like, upon which a hot iron may be placed when not in use.

The clothes-rack consists of arms 15, having swinging connection with the legs 3 and also adapted for longitudinal movement thereof. As here shown,each arm is provided with a slot 16, through which a pin 17 extends into the leg, and on the lower portion of the leg is a loop 18, designed to receive the end of the arm when said arm is in its folded position, and when in this position it will be noted that the upper end wall of the slot 16 engages with the screw or pin 17. When the arm is desired for use for hanging clothing or other articles, it is to be moved upward to disengage its end from theloop 18. Then it is to be moved to a horizontal position, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1,

and a portion of its shorter end is to be passed into a loop or.staple 19 on the outer side of the step-rail 1. Of course articles may be hung on the rearWardly-extended portions of the arms and also on the portions of the arms between the step-rails and the legs 3.

Obviously when the ironing-board and the clothes-rack are in their folded positions the stepladder may be employed for its usual functions, and it will be noted that when the board is in its folded position it will nearly engage with the rear edges of the step-ladder steps, so that it will be prevented from moving ofi of the hook 8 while moving the stepladder from place to place.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent-"- 1. A household article, comprising a stepladder, an ironing-board, means for removably connecting one end of the ironing-board to the upper portion of the step-ladder, and a spring-latch extended rearward from one of the steps of the ladder and adapted to pass through an opening in the board and engage against the rear side of the board, the said latch being curved downward and rearward on its upper side, substantially as specified.

2. A household article, comprising a stepladder, straps extended rearward from the upper ends of the step-rails of the ladder, legs having swinging connection with said straps, a hook secured to the under side of the top board of the ladder between the steprails and the legs, an ironing-board, a loop on one end of said board to engage with said hook, a spring-latch at the lower portion of the ladder for engaging with the board, and a board extended between the legs and having an opening to receive the end of the ironing-board, substantially as specified.

3. A household article, comprising a stepladder having swinging legs, an ironingboard,means for removably engaging the ironing-board with the top board of the ladder,'a spring-catch on the lower step of the ladder for passing through an opening in the board and engaging with the rear side of the board, a keeper-board extended between the swinging legs and having an opening to receive an end of the ironing-board, a cleat on the lower side of said ironing-board to engage with the rear edge of one of the step-ladder steps, and a plate of asbestos secured to the ironingboard, substantially as specified.

45-. A household article, comprising a step ladder having swinging legs, a clothes-rack comprising an arm having a longitudinal slot through which a pin passes into one of the legs, a loop on the leg for receiving the end of the arm, and a loop on the step-rail to receive one end of said arm, substantially as specified.

CHARLES EDWARD MCLAUGIILIN.

ELMER HOWARD WILLIAMS.

Witnesses:

J. Q. BARKER, M. D. BARKER. 

